Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-10-17

aBy Jove, GLADDEN., Pm tired of the whole
business" remarked Chalmers to that worthy
young fellow few days after sthe above
events.
"And I. too,p said GLADDEN., yawning
II think I've made mistake, old boy. ]
find, on analysing my feelings, that do not
and never have loved Sarah" said Chalmers
GLADDEN. pricked up his ears. "The hypo
crite," he mentally CIRCULATED.
"And, GLADDEN., what do you say to
change of basel Suppose we swap girls and
try it on that line Perhaps we'd succeed
better I'll throw you in the prospects of the
Inheritance, for l have it on good authority
now that Sarah is to be her aunt's heiress.'
1.-THE rascal" thought GLADDEN.. Then
aloud: "On what authority do you say this?'
%Oh. I'm in Marthas confidence now, and
she told me all about it"
"Confound his impudence" thought Glad
den, looking straight at his friend, who, to dc
him justice, colored little.
chalmers, you mistake your man if you
think mercenary consideration will weigh
ANYTHING with me. But as I've learned the
true state of my heart during the past few
weeks am willing to rehnquish my claim on
Elizabeth, and, to be candid with you, I've
loved Sarah for some TINA past"
what a lying rascal he is and how neatly
he plays his part" thought Chalmers, looking
at his friend admiringly.
So it was agreed between these two con
spirators that their batteries shosld be re
versed, and that they should each try to cap
ture the quondam sweetheart of thes other,
and active preparations were made for the
new order of things.
Aunt Sophia gave each of these innocent
and humble young men searching glance a
he preferred his request for permission Il
carry off a niece TO the altar. There wa
something in her look that Chalmers did moi
like and that GLADDEN. shrank from as she re
piled to them,
Il never expect to dictate in this affair. II
you've found, after wabbGng along like
geese all this time, that you've got what you
want at last, I've no objections to your
marrying each other. But you'n please r.
member that after you're married You can't
swap wives like jack knives
There were two weddings in one at Aunt
Sophia's house and not many days after this
1t was a simple affair, and there We're J
guests other than the family.
Expectancy ran high after the ceremony, a:
Aunt Sophia had intimated that she hat
something she had desired to say on the sub
ject of property and business generally Sin,
had provided liberal outfit for her niece
and some inexpensive and useful presents
suitable for keeping house, and she breatheC
sigh of relief now that it was all over, th,
skirmishing ceased, the enemy conquered
and the girls, on the whole, appearing salts
fled with the decree of fate
In Mrs Grants coy library, overlooking
the garden, and atfording a view of the con
venient shrubbery where the fair deceiver'
had laid the final train which blew up tb
castles of Chalmers and GLADDEN., sat SIX per
sons whom the reader knows well by this time
Now, girls" began Aunt Sophia, ''sinc
| you've each got husbands, able bodie,
men that can take care of you, hope YOUR
| satisfied. There won't be much poetry an
nonsense about your married lives, | expect
| because poor folks haven't time to dream id
\ dreams The business | want TO speak abou
| is this: there isn't any money to speak of il
my possession. and what there is will stay b.
me till Pm gone, and then what's left will &
to your unmarried sister, Matte, here. Tn
| property-that is the house, haven't don
with yet, and hope | shan't be for some tim
to come; when I'm through with it Matti
will get it, and if you can arrange with he
to make your home with her I've no objeI
tions TO that But, lawsi what's the matte
with you all You look as if you were tend
ing funeral instead of a wedding"
Chalmers stood looking out of a windov
with frown on his classical face, Will
GLADDEN. was trying to hide his chargin b,
meath sickly smile.
al hope Mrs Grant" said Chambers, r,
gaining his self possession, "that you don
regard US as mercenary in having sougt
your nieces in marriage2"
"Oh, no; by no MEANS" said the old lad
with that grim smile of hers
I'm glad you estimate us for what we al
worth" put in the fatuous GLADDEN.
Al do, precisely" said the lady coolly
An hour later Mrs Grant and Martha WEI
alone together, each wearing a peculia
smile.
Even water finds its level at last sal
Aunt Sophia pointedly to her niece.
And those two scapegraces have fOun
theirs, hope" replied Martha But 81
added with a flush on her comely face, st
think that each of those mammon worshipel
should have proposed to me upon a rumo
that l was to be your heiress," Marth
looked panied and colored hotly as she col
cluded.
"To your almost screamed Aunt Sophie
1.-THE miserable wretchesi What a mario,
escape I've had They might have proposes
to me, too Ed Boyden in New Yor
Mercury